Burocratización de los juicios de residencia en Yucatán

This article analyzes the residency trials in the Captaincy General of Yucatan (1683-1752), exploring their practical application beyond legal principles. Based on documents from the Archivo General de Indias, cases of officials subjected to this process are examined, contrasting theory and legal reality through a hermeneutic approach. The findings reveal that, although they initially guaranteed transparency and accountability, over time the trials lost effectiveness, becoming bureaucratic procedures with minor sanctions. This change reflects the adaptation of the mechanism to the political and social dynamics of the time. The study offers a critical view of the evolution of the residency trials and their role in colonial administration, highlighting the gap between the norm and its implementation.